Nasolabial Folds
- Skinfinity+
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
Nose to mouth lines, also known as nasolabial folds or smile lines, are the creases that run from the corner of your nose to the top corner of your mouth. They are a normal anatomical feature – even children have them – but as we age they can appear more prominent with deeper folds developing that can make the face appear downtrodden or sad.
Treatments:
FAQ - NASOLABIAL FOLDS
What are the lines around my mouth?
Nose to mouth lines, also known as nasolabial folds or smile lines, are the creases that run from the corner of your nose to the top corner of your mouth. They are a normal anatomical feature – even children have them – but as we age they can appear more prominent with deeper folds developing that can make the face appear downtrodden or sad.
Are nasolabial lines caused by ageing?
Nasolabial lines are made worse by ageing but we all have them, even from a very young age. Except for new born babies, all humans have these folds. They tend to become deeper and more prominent with age as the face sags and the skin quality and underlying support structures degrade.
What causes nasolabial folds?
As we age we lose collagen and elastin in our skin and the supporting structures in our face (such as fat pads in the cheeks) begin to descend. This causes the lines from our nose to mouth to become deeper and more noticeable. As with all signs of ageing, nasolabial folds can be made worse by lifestyle factors such as smoking, rapid weight loss and sun exposure/damage. These cause wrinkling and changes in skin texture, further degrading levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in our skin, which are responsible for its plumpness and fullness. Facial expressions can also contribute to deepening of lines and folds, known as dynamic wrinkles, hence the other name for nasolabial folds – smile lines.
How to reduce nasolabial folds while sleeping?
You may notice that you have deeper nasolabial folds on one side of the face, particularly if that is the side you sleep on. This is because the facial tissue on that side of the face is being squashed repeatedly while you sleep. There are claims that things like face yoga or special pillows can help to improve the appearance of nasolabial folds while you sleep.
What treatments are there for nasolabial lines?
By far the most popular treatment for nasolabial lines is dermal fillers. These can replace the lost volume in the face that causes the folds to become more deep set and visible. These can be injected directly into the fold to smooth out the lines but in some people this can cause an unnatural appearance. As techniques have evolved, a more common method now is to lift out the nasolabial folds by replacing the lost structure in the mid face – in general the cheek area. In replacing lost volume here the sagging skin that has made the fold look deeper is lifted back into place thereby minimising the appearance of the fold. In general it does not look natural to have nasolabial folds completely obliterated as they are a natural anatomical feature that even children have. Dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid and are non-permanent. Depending on how quickly your body breaks down hyaluronic acid they can yield results from 6 to 24 months.
Collagen stimulating treatments can rejuvenate the appearance of superficial lines by regenerating lost collagen at a deeper level. Microneedling, often combined with amino acids, hyaluronic acid and other anti-ageing boosters, involve using tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin. This stimulates your body's natural healing process, encouraging collagen and elastin production.
Regenerative treatments which stimulate the body to rebuild its own collagen and replenish hyaluronic acid levels are also gaining popularity. One notable one is Profhilo, an injectable hyaluronic acid treatment that is not a filler, rather a 'bio-remodelling product'. Skin boosters reduce the signs of ageing by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and dehydrated saggy skin. They can be used to give overall skin rejuvenation or more targeted treatment of perioral lines, smile lines or neck lines and wrinkles.
Can skincare improve nasolabial lines?
Skincare can improve the appearance of the skin texture and in some cases work at deeper levels to boost hyaluronic acid and collagen levels in the skin. This in turn can make the skin plumper and less wrinkled, which would then impact the appearance of nasolabial folds. But there is no magic cream that can get rid of deep folds and wrinkles. These are caused by a loss of the underlying structure and so the most effective treatment is to replace that lost volume. Looking after your skin and protecting it in the sun is a first line defence and a good skincare regime incorporating active products can soften the appearance of facial wrinkles. If you don’t want to have injections such as dermal fillers or skin boosters then less invasive skin treatments such microneedling can also help the skin to regenerate at a deeper level as well as improving its texture and appearance.
How can I prevent nose to mouth lines?
Your number one line of defence against premature ageing of any kind is always sun protection. Sun damage is the leading cause of skin ageing so using an SPF year round, rain or shine, can protect your skin from damage. Smoking is also a contributing factor to prominent folds and wrinkles on the face as well as a sallow complexion. Some people claim that facial exercises, such as face yoga, and massage can help reduce lines around the nose and mouth.
Kommentare